Equipment you need as a beginner

Punching gloves, boxing bands. The boxing bands are worn around the hand to prevent knuckle and hand injury. Also, the gloves help protect your knuckles during practice session. The gloves cost Rs 300 per pair. The bands cost Rs 125 a pair. Colours are normally as shown above, though bands come in blue, red and black. In Mumbai, for some reason, most sports stores don't necessarily stock them, including some fancy ones at the big malls.

The Chand sports store opposite the Bandra Police station is a good place for boxing accessories. There is another sports store a few shops away, beside it, which also stocks boxing stuff. Chand store also stocks lots of stuff of children's boxing, like a low punching bag which swings about on a springy metallic stand. It is okay for kids, but may not be suitable for adults. The shop also equipment for Boxing instructors like body pads, abdomen pads, hand pads. It also has punching bags and chains of various sizes, with a smallish bag (a foot-or-so in height and width) costing about Rs 3000. Chains are also available separately for Rs 300. These come handy if you have your own punching bag.

But the most important thing you need is a good instructor. And the second most important thing you need: a lot of grit, determination and keenness to practice. Muay Thai is a tough and demanding skill....